Focus facts on community living, 03/2012

CENTER FOR LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP OKLAHOMA’S FEDERALLY DESIGNATED UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (UCEDD)
March 2012 “Making Connections, Finding Solutions Together”
2012 Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities
The 2012 Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities will take place on April 25‐26 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Norman. The conference is open for people with disabilities, their families, providers, professionals, and advocates.
Keynote Speakers
Wednesday, April 25 Mike Coats is a former astronaut who has served as the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center since 2005. His keynote is entitled, There’s a Place for Space in Your Life. Thursday, April 26 Nancy Thaler is the executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Her keynote will discuss The Changing Landscape for State Developmental Disability Systems. Michelle “Sheli” Reynolds has a brother with developmental disabilities. She currently serves as the director of Individual Advocacy and Family Support at Missouri’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Dreaming the Possible Together: Charting a New Life Course is the title of her keynote session. Registration Registration is due by April 6th. The $50 fee includes both days of the conference and lunch on the first day. To register, go to okgovconfdd.com, or e‐mail Gail.Russell@okdhs.org or call 405‐521‐6254. Scholarships for People with Disabilities There are a limited number of registration fee scholarships for people with disabilities. If you have limited financial means, are unemployed or have to take unpaid leave from work to attend the conference, you may request a scholarship on your registration form. Reimbursements for Family Members There are a limited number of $40 per day reimbursements for family members of individuals with disabilities. The registration fee must be paid in advance and the reimbursement will be mailed to you after the conference. Recipients must sign in both days and provide their contact information. Expressions Gallery for Artists with Disabilities Artists with disabilities may submit their paintings, drawings, photography, sculptures, poetry, etc. for display at this year’s Governor’s Conference. Artists can submit up to 5 works of art, but only a maximum of 2 for each artist will be displayed. You must send a photo and an entry form for each work of art to Jenifer.Randle@okddc.ok.gov by March 30. For more information, e‐mail Jenifer Randle or click here to get the flyer. REMINDER: Last Month for focus facts Hard Copies This is the last month that we will be mailing out hard copies of focus facts, with the exception of people who do not have an e‐mail address. If we don’t have your e‐mail address, please send it to Melissa‐Fenrick@ouhsc.edu. If you don’t have an e‐mail address and would like to continue receiving focus facts in the mail, please call 405‐271‐4500, ext. 41002. The Working Family Caregiver: A Free E‐Book Caregiving.com has a free e‐book that offers tips and ideas to help working caregivers. The Working Family Caregiver: Tips for Balancing Career and
Caregiving is written by the founder of Caregiving.com and discusses topics such as helping your employer understand your needs and preparing for the unexpected.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 27: Early Childhood Transition Parent‐to‐Parent Night (for parents of children with disabilities transitioning from SoonerStart to Edmond Public Schools), 6:30‐8:30 p.m., West Field Elementary, 17601 N. Penn Ave., Edmond. Go to
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8RX9V35
to register or call 405‐715‐6130 if you have questions. April 10: On the Road Family Perspective Conference (free), 8:45 a.m.‐3 p.m., Muskogee Public Library, 801 W. Okmulgee St., Muskogee. For more information or to register, call OASIS at 1‐800‐426‐2747 or go to
oasis.ouhsc.edu
.
April 11: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day, 10 a.m., State Capitol Building, Oklahoma City. April 17: People with Disabilities Awareness Day, 12 p.m.‐4:30 p.m., State Capitol Building, Oklahoma City. Visit
okrehab.org/pwdad
for more information.
April 25‐26: Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities, Embassy Suites, 2501 Conference Dr., Norman. For more information or to register, visit
okgovconfdd.com
or call 405‐521‐6254. NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. P0STAGE
PAID
OKLA.CITY, OKLA
PERMIT #220
focus facts
Center for Learning and Leadership/UCEDD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
P.O. Box 26901, ROB 342
Oklahoma City, OK 73126
focus facts is published for the Center for Learning and Leader-ship, Oklahoma’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). It is mailed to a statewide and national network of over 1,300 people interested in developmental disabilities. If you would like to submit informa-tion to be published in the newslet-ter, please e-mail or mail our Editor. Be sure to include the source, de-scription, and contact information relevant to the information you are submitting. Email: Learn2Lead-UCEDD@ouhsc.edu focus facts is supported by grant #90DD0543 from the U.S. Depart-ment of Health and Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Additional support is provided by Oklahoma co-sponsors: OU College of Medicine, The Univer-sity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and project partners: East Central University, The University of Tulsa, and the Oklahoma Depart-ment of Human Services. The Uni-versity of Oklahoma publishes this newsletter in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations. The University of Oklahoma, in com-pliance with all Federal and State applicable laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, prac-tices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, em-ployment, financial aid, and educa-tional services.

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CENTER FOR LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP OKLAHOMA’S FEDERALLY DESIGNATED UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (UCEDD)
March 2012 “Making Connections, Finding Solutions Together”
2012 Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities
The 2012 Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities will take place on April 25‐26 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Norman. The conference is open for people with disabilities, their families, providers, professionals, and advocates.
Keynote Speakers
Wednesday, April 25 Mike Coats is a former astronaut who has served as the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center since 2005. His keynote is entitled, There’s a Place for Space in Your Life. Thursday, April 26 Nancy Thaler is the executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Her keynote will discuss The Changing Landscape for State Developmental Disability Systems. Michelle “Sheli” Reynolds has a brother with developmental disabilities. She currently serves as the director of Individual Advocacy and Family Support at Missouri’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Dreaming the Possible Together: Charting a New Life Course is the title of her keynote session. Registration Registration is due by April 6th. The $50 fee includes both days of the conference and lunch on the first day. To register, go to okgovconfdd.com, or e‐mail Gail.Russell@okdhs.org or call 405‐521‐6254. Scholarships for People with Disabilities There are a limited number of registration fee scholarships for people with disabilities. If you have limited financial means, are unemployed or have to take unpaid leave from work to attend the conference, you may request a scholarship on your registration form. Reimbursements for Family Members There are a limited number of $40 per day reimbursements for family members of individuals with disabilities. The registration fee must be paid in advance and the reimbursement will be mailed to you after the conference. Recipients must sign in both days and provide their contact information. Expressions Gallery for Artists with Disabilities Artists with disabilities may submit their paintings, drawings, photography, sculptures, poetry, etc. for display at this year’s Governor’s Conference. Artists can submit up to 5 works of art, but only a maximum of 2 for each artist will be displayed. You must send a photo and an entry form for each work of art to Jenifer.Randle@okddc.ok.gov by March 30. For more information, e‐mail Jenifer Randle or click here to get the flyer. REMINDER: Last Month for focus facts Hard Copies This is the last month that we will be mailing out hard copies of focus facts, with the exception of people who do not have an e‐mail address. If we don’t have your e‐mail address, please send it to Melissa‐Fenrick@ouhsc.edu. If you don’t have an e‐mail address and would like to continue receiving focus facts in the mail, please call 405‐271‐4500, ext. 41002. The Working Family Caregiver: A Free E‐Book Caregiving.com has a free e‐book that offers tips and ideas to help working caregivers. The Working Family Caregiver: Tips for Balancing Career and
Caregiving is written by the founder of Caregiving.com and discusses topics such as helping your employer understand your needs and preparing for the unexpected.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 27: Early Childhood Transition Parent‐to‐Parent Night (for parents of children with disabilities transitioning from SoonerStart to Edmond Public Schools), 6:30‐8:30 p.m., West Field Elementary, 17601 N. Penn Ave., Edmond. Go to
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8RX9V35
to register or call 405‐715‐6130 if you have questions. April 10: On the Road Family Perspective Conference (free), 8:45 a.m.‐3 p.m., Muskogee Public Library, 801 W. Okmulgee St., Muskogee. For more information or to register, call OASIS at 1‐800‐426‐2747 or go to
oasis.ouhsc.edu
.
April 11: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day, 10 a.m., State Capitol Building, Oklahoma City. April 17: People with Disabilities Awareness Day, 12 p.m.‐4:30 p.m., State Capitol Building, Oklahoma City. Visit
okrehab.org/pwdad
for more information.
April 25‐26: Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities, Embassy Suites, 2501 Conference Dr., Norman. For more information or to register, visit
okgovconfdd.com
or call 405‐521‐6254. NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. P0STAGE
PAID
OKLA.CITY, OKLA
PERMIT #220
focus facts
Center for Learning and Leadership/UCEDD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
P.O. Box 26901, ROB 342
Oklahoma City, OK 73126
focus facts is published for the Center for Learning and Leader-ship, Oklahoma’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). It is mailed to a statewide and national network of over 1,300 people interested in developmental disabilities. If you would like to submit informa-tion to be published in the newslet-ter, please e-mail or mail our Editor. Be sure to include the source, de-scription, and contact information relevant to the information you are submitting. Email: Learn2Lead-UCEDD@ouhsc.edu focus facts is supported by grant #90DD0543 from the U.S. Depart-ment of Health and Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Additional support is provided by Oklahoma co-sponsors: OU College of Medicine, The Univer-sity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and project partners: East Central University, The University of Tulsa, and the Oklahoma Depart-ment of Human Services. The Uni-versity of Oklahoma publishes this newsletter in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations. The University of Oklahoma, in com-pliance with all Federal and State applicable laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, prac-tices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, em-ployment, financial aid, and educa-tional services.